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The recently concluded Homecoming edition of AEW Dynamite has created a massive buzz among the wrestling section of the world. During the show's main event, Malakai Black made a triumphant in-ring debut as he went on to defeat Cody Rhodes in what many considered to be a squash match.
But it wasn't just the match that caught people's attention, but the aftermath left many people in a state of shock.
Following their bout, Cody Rhodes grabbed the mic and delivered a passionate promo, which people later realized was his apparent retirement speech. When he was officially about to call it quits, Malakai Black surfaced and prevented him from finishing his speech.
The former WWE superstar assaulted him with a crutch, leaving him in unimaginable pain to close the show on a cliffhanger. The fact that the entire match and segment sparked a massive discussion shows how flawlessly AEW delivered the first chapter of this storyline. Fans are now wondering what the company has in store for Malakai Black and Cody Rhodes moving forward.
That said, let's take a look at five possible fallouts that the company could book for these two men on AEW Dynamite.
#5 Cody Rhodes vs. Malakai Black II at AEW All Out
With AEW All Out pay-per-view just around the corner, the company could book chapter two between Cody Rhodes and Malakai Black.
Considering how management turned things around with this storyline, there is no way that it will end without a babyface getting his vengeance. The bout between Black and Rhodes served its purpose in making the former look dominant and ruthless in his in-ring debut.
But fans haven't witnessed any brutal slugfest coming out of their clash.
There is so much more that these men can offer with the current direction of their feud. If given 15-20 minutes in the ring, Malakai Black and Cody Rhodes could lay their impressive arsenal in front of the audience.
Cody Rhodes, being depicted as a proud man, must defeat Malakai Black to seek his revenge. It won't just bring more eyeballs to their feud, but it will also set up a rubber match at a later date.
Let's face it, AEW hasn't booked a storyline as compelling and with bated breath for anyone watching in recent history. The feud holds the potential to be a storyline of the year contender.
#4 AEW star Cody Rhodes takes time off from the company
Going by what happened this past week, AEW star Cody Rhodes could take an indefinite hiatus from the company. A report surfaced about a week ago suggesting that The American Nightmare will not appear on Dynamite after this past week.
Cody Rhodes is expected to join as a guest alongside Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Nettles, and DJ Khaled for the second season of the extreme competition series The Go-Big Show. Moreover, with the recent birth of her daughter, he would want to spend some quality time with her family.
The AEW star undoubtedly deserves a break, given how much he has consistently given the company since its inception.
#3 Malakai Black could target Miro after potentially putting Cody Rhodes on the shelf
It could be a long shot, but AEW star Malakai Black targeting Miro would be the most logical feud for him moving forward.
As dominating as Miro's title reign has been so far, it has somewhere failed to gain mainstream attention as it did with guys like Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes holding the title.
AEW star Miro has truly elevated his status and even dominated every possible challenger that came his way. But out of his five title defenses, no star was depicted as a threat to his reign.
Malakai Black vs. Miro could be the feud that the company needs for its mid-card division. Although Miro is perfect as a heel at the moment, this storyline might prompt him to turn face.
Back when he was in WWE, Miro displayed great potential with a babyface role. A character change would only benefit him in the longer run. Meanwhile, the company could emphasize Malakai Black's momentum and give him the TNT Championship.
#2 Cody Rhodes defeats Malakai Black for the TNT Championship later this year
AEW star Malakai Black defeating Miro could potentially set the stage for Cody Rhodes to return and set up a massive TNT Championship match down the road.
On top of that, if Cody Rhodes ends up defeating Malakai Black, it would become a true redemption story for him. The American Nightmare is the only AEW wrestler to hold the TNT title twice in his career.
Tony Khan wouldn't mind giving him his third, considering how he has worked to make the championship relevant today.
This could also prolong the storyline between Cody Rhodes and Malakai Black. Adding one of the top championships would make their feud more intense.
#1 Cody Rhodes puts his AEW career on the line against Malakai Black
Going by the current trend, Cody Rhodes could put his career on the line in his next encounter against Malakai Black. After the show went off the air during the Homecoming edition, Cody Rhodes left his other boot in the ring and then kissed the mat to walk away backstage.
Although Rhodes recently made it clear that he isn't retiring from the in-ring competition until he turns 40, the company could capitalize on this storyline.
A swerve like this would grab mainstream attention. Cody could confront Malakai Black in the coming weeks to set up this stipulation for their next match. The company could even book this match for Full Gear. It would truly become one of the greatest main events in AEW's history.
The outcome will most likely be predictable, but people will literally pop out of their seats upon witnessing close falls. It would be a great way to put an end to their feud.
Fans can watch this week's review of AEW and NXT on Sportskeeda's The Debrief in the above video!
